My point was for them to have a Mini that's not crap the price would have to be significantly higher. The only way to achieve the much lower prices that are rumored is in my opinion if they brand and market it as an iPod. iPad customers want fast smooth operation retina display and plenty of storage and from comments I've read people want all of those things in a proverbial iPad mini as well for far less money.

Try commuting every day on subways and buses in cities like NY, London, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, etc. and you'd appreciate a smaller tablet. I visit these cities on a regular basis and the iPad is just too big to use while on the move in crowded trains and on the streets. Most people in this world live in dense cities and move about on foot, not drive around like most people do here in the States. If I lived in Seoul I'd definitely want a smaller iPad but don't see the need for one in LA.

I got a Nexus 7 this weekend and I think it's fantastic. An iPad Mini will be have tough competition. The Nexus 7 is the perfect size. Just fits in a jeans pocket (front or back), if they aren't tight jeans. Can't see an 8" 4:3 iPad Mini doing that. Next, the screen is really good. 216 ppi is just solid. I would not want an iPad Mini with 164 ppi even if it's $199. If Apple does an iPad Mini I hope they go for a retina display and a more pocketable size. I'd say the only downer of the Nexus 7 has been the craptacular launch with Google Play store customers getting screwed over on their pre-orders.

AI strikes again.... "Sub $499 price"? There would be no reason for it to exist if it weren't well under $499.

I've been saying all year that if Apple came out with an ultra-low cost iPad for $199, they would basically be kicking Google and Amazon in the balls. Who would buy anything else if one can get an authentic iPad for $199? Sure, Apple would have to strip it down to 8Gb, no 3G, no *anything* to get the price that low (and probably only break even on that model) but it would be huge strategic win. They can afford it and should do it.

That's one of the points. Strangle other tablets in their cribs before they get a foothold in attracting developer share for quality tablet apps. Which they would then push upward into larger form factors.

$199 - doubtful unless severely stripped. Zero to low margin is not the Apple way - nor do I think it's required.

$299 - still leaves a window open for the $199 devices.

$249 - could be the sweet spot - i.e., you can get a "real" iPad for only $50 more, plus the whole fabled "ecosystem." A cellular data version could cost more, since I don't believe any of the other "minis" announced have it.

Then why does MSFT have several flavors of their current OS? And since Windows apps won't be compatible with Windows RT, he continues to spew his moronic BS because they are in fact different OS's. He is as confused as his products.